Arteta explains Arsenal position on planned 60 job cuts

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal explained their planned reduction of 60 jobs as part of an effort to improve the club and support further success. The manager addressed the redundancies at his Friday news conference, with the Premier League champions preparing to visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, according to reporting by the Press Association published in The Independent.

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Chief executive Richard Garlick informed employees this week that staffing would be reduced in several departments. The Independent reported that the proposed cuts would leave playing and coaching personnel in both the men's and women's teams unaffected. The changes concern permanent positions elsewhere in the organisation rather than a reduction in those first-team groups.

Arteta described the explanation he had received as a review of how the club operates, with an emphasis on assigning people appropriately and continuing investment. He also made clear that he did not consider himself the person to answer detailed questions about the decision. He took no further questions on the subject, the Press Association reported.

BBC Sport reported that the cuts could affect up to seven per cent of Arsenal's 871 permanent employees. Coaching and performance staff are protected, as are security employees and roles within the Arsenal Foundation and Arsenal in the Community. The review was conducted by an external company and was already under way before Arsenal secured the league championship.

The announcement follows Arteta's agreement to a new four-year contract last week. He led Arsenal to their first Premier League title since 2004 last season. BBC Sport said the new deal increased his pay from a previous package comprising a £10 million annual salary and a further £5 million in bonuses, without specifying the revised figures in its report.

The staffing changes also come against a backdrop of record income but an overall loss in Arsenal's most recently reported financial year. According to BBC Sport, the club announced revenue of £691 million for 2024-25 in February, alongside a loss of £1.4 million. Operating costs reached £200.8 million in those accounts.